By THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM| The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has begun the process of verifying membership for service associations representing officers and employees of the Central Secretariat. The move is part of a larger exercise to formally recognize associations under the Central Civil Services (Recognition of Service Associations) Rules, 1993.

Six associations from various cadres of the Central Secretariat — including officers, clerical staff, stenographers, and car drivers — have been shortlisted for verification. These include the Central Secretariat Promotee Group B Officers Association, Central Secretariat Group C Employees Association, Central Secretariat Staff Car Drivers’ Association, Central Secretariat NG Employees Union, Central Secretariat Group B Officers Union, and Central Secretariat Employees Association.

The membership verification will be carried out through the check-off system, in which employees authorize the deduction of an annual membership fee directly from their salaries. The process aims to ensure transparency and authenticity in recognizing associations that represent different categories of staff within the Central Secretariat.

DoPT has asked all ministries and departments to facilitate the deduction of the annual membership fee from the November 2025 payroll for the financial year 2025–26. The department has also clarified that employees can be members of only one association, and the subscription fee should be deducted only once during the year.

The verification exercise marks an important step toward strengthening employee representation and streamlining engagement between the government and staff associations in the Central Secretariat.